Okay I've been lurking here on and off for years and have wanted an ebook since sony announced its first reader. However when the 505 came out I reviewed its specs, thought it was very nice and said, "Lets wait for the next generation so we can get search."
However, with each generation I continue to be dismayed that every e-reader, in every generation out there, has something missing. Poor screens, lame, unnecessary lighting, no media slots, focus on propitiatory formats, to many buttons, battery chewing lcds... etc.
I practically gave up. I don't need wireless or anything fancy. I just want a light reader with a paperback sized screen thats crisp and allows me to search and bookmark. I would like it to do pdfs well and handle txt files. I would like to be able to drag and drop files onto the device or a memory card. I don't want a big awkward keyboard.
Still this seems an impossible order to fill after all these years...
If I bought one for my mom I'd buy a Kindle but I'm pretty computer savvy so converting formats and removing drm from books I buy doesn't concern me but I don't want to spend all my time cleaning up a text or suffering from poor PDF handling.
I have a netbook so when they came out with Kindle for PC I did get that. I like it mostly but I want something I can hold in my hand, not on my lap so I can skip the glasses (I'm near sighted). I can't go on like this!
:dramatic sigh:
So what do you think? An initial look at the market now makes me lean toward the IREX Digital Reader 800S. It's pdf handling isn't perfect but I love the size of screen, its simplicity of purpose and the fact that it reads drm files from a major bookseller without being beholden to it.
Price tag not so much.
So what do you guys think? All suggestions welcome!
